The 2023 NBA Draft takes place on Thursday with the expected selection of French phenom Victor Wembanyama by the San Antonio Spurs with the No. 1 overall pick.
G League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson and Alabama’s Brandon Miller are expected to be selected with the next two picks, to Charlotte at No. 2 and Portland at No. 3, in some order.
The Memphis Grizzlies used their 2023 first-round pick late Wednesday night in a three-team trade to acquire guard Marcus Smart from the Celtics.
Follow our pick and grade tracker for all 60 picks in the two-round draft below:
MARK GIANNOTO:The Marcus Smart trade isn’t perfect, but at least the Memphis Grizzlies took a swing
2023 NBA Draft tracker: Picks and grades
First round
1: San Antonio Spurs | Victor Wembanyama, C, France
Instant character: See you
Analysis: He’s a 7-foot-5 center who looks like a guard when he handles the basketball and pulls up from 3 while looking like a prolific rim protector on defense. If he has any luck with the durability, Wembanyama will be an all-time great. Maybe he is after all.
2. Charlotte Hornets | Brandon Miller, F, Alabama
Instant character: A-minus
Analysis: Miller will be a very good wing in the NBA for a long time, given his plus passing skills and good shot. The risk for the Hornets is the scrutinized decision between Miller and Scoot Henderson at this pick. His development will be based on his ability to add strength and continued improvement in finishing at the rim.
3. Portland Trail Blazers | Scoot Henderson, G, G League Ignite
Instant character: A
Analysis: Really like Henderson who can develop into the leader of the next era of Blazers basketball if and when Damian Lillard’s Portland career ends in the future. Henderson can create his own offense and his shooting will improve over the next few years to make him a more complete offensive player. And at this point in Lillard’s career, it doesn’t hurt to take some of the ball-handling load off the Blazers’ superstar.
4. Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson, G, Overtime Elite
Instant Grade: A-minus
Analysis: Thompson will fit the Rockets’ timeline as he develops as an offensive player, though he will be the Rockets’ best backcourt passer as a rookie. His ability to score for himself will determine his ceiling. At worst, he’ll be a good distributor who can disrupt on the perimeter. Houston’s young core needed Thompson.
5. Detroit Pistons | Ausar Thompson, G, Overtime Elite
Instant character: B-plus
Analysis: The twins go back to back. Ausar Thompson has shown more to this point as a defender, and similar to his brother’s fit in Houston, he will tie together the Pistons’ young core along with Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham. Ausar’s shot needs to improve, but the Pistons’ timeline will allow him to grow. Good choice.
6.Orlando Magic | Anthony Black, G, Arkansas
Instant Grade: B
Analysis: The Magic add the 6-foot-6 guard who is very, very comfortable making the right decision with the basketball. Like the latter two picks, Black is going to a franchise that should allow him to progress on the floor without worrying too much about short-term results. The shot needs to be improved.
7. Indiana Pacers | Bilal Coulibaly, F, France (proposed trade to Washington)
Instant Grade: B-minus
Analysis: Coulibaly was a teammate of Wembanyama in France. He is a pick for the future as a lanky forward who has a lot of potential on the defensive end. Is he done growing? (Coulibaly has grown nearly a foot in the last two years.) There needs to be some progression from Coulibaly as a scorer and creator.
*ESPN reported that Coulibaly will be traded to Washington in a No. 7-to-No. 8 pick swap that also involves second round picks.*
8.Washington Wizards | Jarace Walker, F, Houston (proposed trade to Indiana)
Instant Grade: B-plus
Analysis: Walker may not have the super-high potential of the rest of this top 10, but he has a high floor as an energy defenseman who can do almost anything off the ball on the other end. Walker can knock down shots, is a solid rebounder and can defend multiple positions.
9. Utah Jazz | Taylor Hendricks, F, UCF
Instant character: A-minus
Analysis: This one is easy. Hendricks, at 6-foot-9, can block shots and catch-and-shoot from the outside. He will play early and often in the Jazz rotation as long as he can continue to make shots at the rate he did at UCF (39% from 3 on 155 attempts last year). He will have some fun viral help defense blocks during the regular season.
10. Dallas Mavericks | Cason Wallace, G, Kentucky (proposed trade to OKC)
Instant Grade: B-plus
Analysis: Wallace fits the bill as a plus defender who can create his own offense at times. He’ll need to become more consistent, and I like his shot more than his Kentucky numbers might suggest, but Wallace could be a boost for OKC in the rotation right away.
*ESPN reported that Wallace and Davis Bertans will be traded to Oklahoma City for the No. 12 pick and more.*
11. Orlando Magic (via Chicago) | Jett Howard, G, Michigan
Instant character: B
Analysis: Howard can make shots and Orlando could use some shooters. Howard, the son of former NBA player and current Michigan coach Juwan Howard, needs to become a better defender and will be targeted on the floor despite decent size at 6-foot-7.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder | Dereck Lively, C, Duke (proposed trade to Dallas)
Instant character: B
Analysis: Lively was a defensive dynamo at the end of last season at Duke. Lively will be one of the best shot blockers in the NBA. Can his offensive game expand? And what does it look like?
13. Toronto Raptors | Gradey Dick, G, Kansas
Instant character: B
Analysis: Dick will be a catch-and-shoot player in the NBA, at least early. Defensively, he will need to be thoughtful to compensate for a lack of speed against the better guards and wings in the pros.
14. New Orleans Pelicans | Jordan Hawkins, G, UConn
Instant Grade: ONE
Analysis: He is as polished as any player outside the top three with the ability to work open and create his own offense. At worst, he’ll be a quality scorer as a third guard. Hawkins has high potential.
15. Atlanta Hawks | Kobe Bufkin, G, Michigan
Instant Grade: A-minus
Analysis: If Bufkin was 3 inches taller, he would have been a top-half of the lottery. He is a capable scorer who has a productive shot, can contribute as a passer and has solid defensive awareness. High floor if his athleticism can hold up to the pros.
16. Utah Jazz (via Minnesota) | Keyonte George, G, Baylor
Instant character: B
Analysis: Another player who might have been a lottery pick had he been a few inches taller, George was a very good scorer in a tough Big 12 as a freshman. Does he have the athleticism at 6-foot-4 to be a quality NBA guard?
17. Los Angeles Lakers | Jalen Hood-Schifino, G, Indiana
Instant character: B-minus
Analysis: Hood-Schifino is an energy guy who defended well in college. Will that translate in the NBA?
18. Miami Heat | Jaime Jaquez Jr., G, UCLA
Instant Grade: C-plus
Analysis: Jaquez is an ideal location in Miami where decision making is valued. Can he score enough and defend OK enough to play a role in Miami’s rotation? I’m not sure.
19. Golden State Warriors | Brandin Underworld, G, Santa Clara
Instant Grade: B-plus
Analysis: With Jordan Poole headed to Washington, the Warriors will need to find some shooting and scoring when Steph Curry is off the floor. Podziemski fits here as a 44% 3-point shooter last year. and he averaged nearly 9 rebounds per game. match in the WCC.